Title: Analysis of stress distribution in longwall barrier: a case study

Authors: Vedala R. Sastry, Roshan Nair

Addresses: Department of Mining Engineering, National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Surathkal, Mangalore – 575025, India. ' Department of Mining Engineering, National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Surathkal, Mangalore – 575025, India

Abstract: This paper presents results of a detailed study on the stress distribution in longwall barriers during extraction of coal in an underground mine. Analysis was carried out on the stress obtained at different locations in the barrier using finite element modelling and field monitoring. Results indicated that the zone of barrier lying in goaf experienced higher stress when compared with barrier lying in the solid zone. Stress in the region of barrier lying between 10 m ahead of face and 40 m behind the face (barrier section lying in goaf) was found to be the most critical in the design of barrier.

Keywords: longwall mining; finite element method; FEM; modelling; field instrumentation; stress distribution; longwall barriers; coal extraction.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMME.2010.031809

International Journal of Mining and Mineral Engineering, 2010 Vol.2 No.1, pp.1 - 17

Published online: 24 Feb 2010 *

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